Combination disposable syringe unit



Dec. 6, 1949 A. E. SMITH 2,490,552

COMBINATION DISPOSABLE SYRINGE UNIvT Filed sept. 2o, 1947 Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES @ATENT OFFICE COMBINATIN DISPOSABLE SYRINGE UNIT Arthur E. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 20, 1947,Serial No. 775,193

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination disposable syringe unit.

The general object of the invention is to provide afsyringe of the disposable type which may be used either for the preparation and injection of a freshly mixed drug and vehicle, or for the injection of a previously prepared drug containing solution or mixture.

An example of the drugs in a freshly prepared solution would be penicillin or a local anaesthetic such as procain hydrochloride, while an example of an already mixed medicinal compound would be penicillin-oil-Wax and vaccines.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a syringe including a novelliquid holding plunger member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel front member for a syringe.

A Afurther object of the invention is to provide a syringe including a liquid holding plunger member, wherein novel means is providedA for causing the liquid in the plunger to move into the barrel.v

A further'object ofthe invention is to provide a syringe having novel means for holding a drug in -position and for, at will, placingthe drug in solution in avehicle carried by the syringe.

Other objects and advantages-of myY invention will be apparent from the following' description taken in connection `with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a syringe embodyingthe features of my invention;

Fig.f2 isi-a fragmentary,fenlarged, central, sectional view, showingthe syringe; y

Fig. 3 is a central, sectional View, showing the syringe after the solution is prepared;

Fig. iis a fragmentary, central, sectional view, showingthe needle moved to pierce the diaphragm;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, central, sectional View, showingsthefront endv of a modified type of my invention, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the rear end of the modified type.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, I have shown my invention as embodied in a syringe which is indicated generally at I0.

As shown, the syringe includes a barrel I l having a plunger I2 slidable therein. The barrel and plunger may be madeV of `plastic or other suitable material. Upon the outer end of the plunger I mount a rear end member which is indicated generally at I3A and which may be made of flexible rubber. The rear end member includes a body I4 disposed Within the plunger and a flange I which extends outwardly beyond the barrel and formsy annger engaging portion. The rear end member includes an axial recess le whichv is closed at its Vinnerend by a diaphragm Il and communicates with a concave portion i8 which latter maybe engagedby the thumb ofthe operator.

in some instances it is necessary to bleed the interior of the plunger and Ato take Careof this I arrange a slit lf9=in thefdiaphragm il;v This slit, due to the resiliency of the material in which it is arranged,` permits. passage ofair into the plunger while preventing; passage of fluid therefrom.

On the front of the plunger I arrange va piston, indicated generally'at 20. As shown, the piston includes a body 2| arranged Within Vthe plunger and a forward portion 22 which has spaced peA ripheral piston ring vformingbeads 23 thereon. The piston is preferably madeof soit rubber and includesan axial recess24- which is closed at the forward end of the piston by a convex, walled diaphragm 25. This diaphragm 25 has a slit 2E therein and the construction is such that fluid may be withdrawn from the plungerthrough the slit 26 but cannot be readily forced into the plunger through the slit.

The syringe barrel H may be provided with an inwardly directed flange 2l arranged at the outer end thereof and engageable by the innermost bead 23 to prevent full withdrawal of the plunger from the barrel by a careless operator.

Upon the barrel, adjacent to the piston, I arrange a front mem-ber 28,` which like the piston, may be made of rubber. The front member includes a body 29 having aforwardly projecting cylindrical portion 30 from which a reduced tip 3l extends. The front member includes an integral skirt 32 which is spaced fromthe body 2B. The skirt has al peripheralv flange 33 thereon. which may-be grasped by the ngers of the opcrater; The front member includes an axial outerA recess 34, and an inner axial recess 35 with a diaphragm*betweenl the recesses.

Mysyringe is adapted for use with previously prepared solutions or'for the preparation of fresh solutions. When freshA solutions are to be preparedyI place a-'medicinal preparation, shown as aA tablet 31, in the recess 35 land I place a vehicle forl this tabletin the plunger -I 2.

When the preparationwis in the lrecess 35 it-is protected against contamination fromoutside sources and is maintained out -ofcontactwith its vehicle until the operator desires to prepare the solution.-

Upon the tip 3| I arrange acaplthe-skirt 3 40 of which slides upon the tip, while the body 4I is formed about a needle 42 and a protuberance 43 on the needle. The inner end of the needle is preferably sharpened as at 44 and is closely adjacent to, but does not pierce, the diaphragm 36 when in normal position.

The needle is maintained sterile and premature piercing of the diaphragm by the needle is prevented by the arrangement oi a closure 45 which engages the projecting portion 30. The closure includes a rubber front member 46 which has a recess 47 in which the sharpened front end 48 of the needle is inserted.

When the syringe is to be used, the operator grasps the rear end member I3 of the plunger and pulls the plunger rearwardly. The partial vacuum produced in the barrel causes liquid within the plunger to open the valve 26 as the liquid passes into the barrel. The valve i9 also opens to supply atmospheric air to the interior of the ampule. In many instances the valve I9 may be omitted, depending upon what amount of liquid is to be Withdrawn from the plunger.

After the desired vehicle has passed into the barrel, the closure 45 is removed and the cap 39 is moved along the tip 3l, causing the sharpened end 44 of the needle to pierce the diaphragm 36, whereupon the syringe is ready for use.

In Figs. and 6 I show a modication of myv invention wherein similar parts are designated by single primed reference characters.

In the modication the piston is shown as extended so that the front end thereof substantially covers the inner face of the end member. The piston is provided with a cavity 49 in which a medicinal preparation 50, similar to the preparation 37, is placed. The end of the piston is provided with a slit 5| which forms a valve. The slit 5| is aligned with a recess 52 which is similar to, but smaller than, the recess 35.

The rear end of the plunger as shown in Fig. 6 is provided with a cap 53 which includes a recess 54 receiving the flange 2l' on the plunger l2'. The cap 53 includes a skirt 55 Which is of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the barrel Il. A seal 55, which may be made of paper or similar material, serves to hold the plunger in forward position where the piston about the cavity 49 engages the inner face of the front member to protect the preparation 56. The cap 53 includes a recess 51, diaphragm 58 and a valve slit 59, similar to the parts I6, l1 and I9 previously described.

In use of the modied syringe the seal 56 is broken and the plunger is withdrawn; the operation is then similar to that previously described. The present application discloses a construction similar to the construction in applicants copending applications Serial Nos. 775,192 and 775,194, both filed September 20, 1947.

In the present application the claims are drected specifically to a syringe wherein the ampule is provided with a front member which has a recess therein and wherein the recess is sealed by the piston plunger. In application Serial No. 775,192 the claims are directed to the front member closure with the diaphragm therein; while in application Serial No. 775,194 the claims are directed broadly and specifically to a syringe wherein the piston plunger is provided with a valve permitting fluid to flow from the rear of the piston plunger to the front thereof.

The subject matter disclosed in this application is similar to the subject matter disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 775,194, filed September 20, 1947.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that with my invention the active medicinal ingredient is sealed in a dry state, separate from the solution until a few seconds before injection. The solution is prepared by the mere act of preparing the syringe for use. Thus, full drug potency and freedom from toxicity due to drug deterioration is secured. Also, the same unit may be used for the scientific administration of already prepared medicinal compounds by merely preparing the syringe for use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A syringe including a barrel, a plunger shiftable in said barrel, said plunger comprising an ampule having a closure at the rear end thereof, said closure including a one-way valve permitting passage of air from the atmosphere into the ampule but preventing passage therethrough from the ampule, a piston stopper in the front end of the ampule, said piston stopper having a recess and having an integral portion forming an outer wall for said recess, said outer wall having a slit therein, said piston stopper being made of Ilexible rubber permitting the slit to open to permit passage of fluid from the ampule While preventing passage into the ampule, said barrel having a front member thereon, said front member having a recess, a drug in said recess, the Wall of said front member about said recess engaging the piston stopper about the valve therein to seal the latter against opening, and a needle mounted on said front member and communicating with said front member recess.

2. A syringe including a barrel, a plunger shiftable in said barrel, said plunger comprising an ampule having a closure at the rear end thereof, said closure including a one-way valve permitting passage of air from the atmosphere into the ampule but preventing passage therethrough from the ampule, a piston stopper in the front end of the ampule, said piston stopper having a recess and having an integral portion forming an outer wall for said recess, said outer Wall having a slit therein, said piston stopper being made of flexible rubber permitting the slit to open to permit passage of fluid from the ampule while preventing passage into the ampule, said barrel having a front member thereon, said front member having a recess, the wall of said front member about said recess engaging the piston stopper about the valve therein to seal the latter against opening, said front member having an outwardly opening recess coaxial with the rst recess therein, a diaphragm between said front member recesses, a needle mounted on said front member and extending through said diaphragm and communicating with said front member recess, said piston stopper having a cavity in the outer face thereof and a medicinal preparation in said cavity, the wall of the piston stopper about the cavity engaging the inner wall of the front member.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,241,352 Doering Sept. 25, 1917 1,594,493 Brown Aug. 3, 1926 1,607,271 Smith Nov. 16, 1926 1,867,355 Fletcher July 12, 1932 1,967,439 Heineman July 24, 1934 

